Livestock and Animal Science projects continue to be the largest, most viable projects offered in Bourbon County 4-H. Even though it may be one of the oldest, most traditional aspects of 4-H, one cannot discount its importance, due to the fact that livestock and livestock products statistically amount to about half of the farm income in Kentucky. Due to that fact, it remains extremely important that youth understand the role of agriculture in their lives along with the importance of livestock, livestock products and the food they eat.

 Chick incubation projects in classrooms fair taught basic life sciences to elementary students. Several classrooms used this school enrichment project to not only teach life science but to bring Agriculture education into their curriculum.  One teacher, in light of school being cancelled due to COVID-19, took the classroom incubator home and did live vidoes and zoomed with the 3^rd grade students on the progress and hatching of the chicks.

Through livestock projects, youth learn about livestock selection, evaluation, breeds, species, body parts, structure, nutrition, feeds and feeding, animal ethics, marketing, and much more. In addition, youth learn the importance of hard work and responsibility, and also develop important life skills such as critical thinking, decision-making, and communication. Bourbon County youth continue a long tradition of being competitive in the show rings, statewide.


 The Bourbon County 4-H and FFA Show and Sale continues to be the highlight for our livestock exhibitors each year. The 2019 Bourbon County 4-H and FFA Livestock Show and Sale was a huge success once again. This was the 29th year for this event. 35 youth offered market animals - steers, goats, sheep and hogs - for sale as completion of their 2018 livestock exhibition season. . This event is strongly community supported with over 300 people in attendance. Over 40 volunteers donated more than 20 hours of time to make the 2019 sale a success.

In May of 2020, the 4-H and FFA Beef exhibitors held their own #SafeAtHome Showcase.  This was a video “Virtual” Show, in which all but one beef exhibitor participated.  The youth submitted videos of themselves showing their animal.  The video clips were then broken into classes and pieced together into a running video.  That video was then sent to an out-of-state beef cattle judge who placed the animals.  Once that was complete, the group held an awards ceremony via zoom.  The parents and livestock coaches organized the entire event, along with seeking donations for awards, premiums and goody bags.  Each participant received a VERY well stocked goody bag, premium money and a t-shirt.

 The volunteer hours devoted to the livestock programs amount to approximately 330 hours a year, totaling a value of $8,390.00 ($25.43 @ hour - based on data set forth by the Independent